Crate.



T. F. BURNING.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I8. 1917.

Patented June 11, 1918.

CRATE.

mosaic.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS F. DURMNG, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. j e p This invention relates to improvements in crates, one object of the invention being the provision of a crate especially adapted for receiving and holding two metal containers or cans, the particular one being especially designed for holding two live gallon oil cans,one above the other so that the upper can is supported without throwing weight upon the lower can and whereby both containers are held in place regardless of the position of the crate.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a metal crate which is simple, durable and inexpensive in construction and which is thoroughly eflicient and practical in use.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete crate, showing two oil containers or cans in place.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the crate, dotted hnes showlng the position of the hingednpper can holding members.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the crate.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral designates the bottom framewhich is made square in form, from an angle bar so as to provide the bottom flange 6 and the up standing flange 7.

Secured at each corner of the member 5 and to the flange 6 thereof by means of the rivets 7, are the longitudinal corner members or angle bars 8 which have secured exteriorly thereof at their upper ends, by means of the rivets 9, the rectangular open frame 10. In order to brace the longitudinal members the strips 11, two in number, are attached at opposite sides of the crate to the exterior faces of the longitudinal members,

by rivets 12, while connected intermediate of the ends of the longitudinal members and upon opposite sides of the crate, are the hinges 13.

These hinges are arranged in pairs and have attached to each pair, the plate 14 which is substantially as long the crate Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jung 111 1918, Application filed December 18, 1917. Serial at. 207707.

wide and isprovided with the right angularly disposed lip or flange 15, having the cut-away corners 16 so that when the plate l t is flush againstthe longitudinal members of the crate said lip 15 projects within the crate so as to cooperate with the opposite lip and form twooppositely disposed supports for the upper can C, which is thus held out of contact with the lower can, G, whose bottom rests securely upon the lower flange 6 of the bottom of the crate.

In order to'lock the cans against longitudinal movement and securely within the crate, a hinge 17 is attached to the upper frame of the crate and has attached thereto the locking strap 18 which is provided with the curved portion 19 adjacent the hinging end, while uponjthe opposite end is carried the spring catch 20 for engagement with the opening 21 at theopposite side of the mouth of the open frame of the crate.

It will be noted that when the parts are inthe position as shown in Figure 1, that both cans are held within the crate individually and without either can being in jured or subject to injury by being placed one upon the other, and by means of the closing strip the two cans are firmly held so that thecrate can be placed in any position, upside 'down or on its side.

Itis also apparent that the spring cat-ch may be dispensed with and that a hasp, by means of which the closing strip may be locked, thus makingthis crateespecially desirable for private ownersin public garages.

It is also evident with a crate of this kind that the wooden crates now employed and whiclr-are destroyed 'everytime the cans are unpacked, will be dispensed with as the present form of crate is practically indest-ructable and can be used over and over many times.

It is also possible to make this crate c0l lapsible, in which event instead of using a solid bottom as shown, the two opposite strips thereof will be hingedly connected to the two opposite longitudinal strips which will be made and secured in the forms of frames so as to permit these forms to be moved to and from each other, the hinging members of the intermediate rests being pivotally connected to the longitudinal strips of the frames, while the top frame will be made of four strips, the two opposite ones of which and upon the same side as the longitudinal rests, will be pivoted to the same can be collapsedv by moving the two frames toward each other, the two hinged rest members being swung outwardly to permit of this action.

What Iclaim as new is:

1. A metallic crate for holding. aplurality of superposed packages comprising four longitudinal annular members, a flanged bottom connected to one end thereof,an open frame connected to theopposite ends.thereof, two hinged flange plates connected to two oppositely disposed longitudinal members for movement into and out of the crate, the. flanges thereof when projected within the crate forming a support for the uppermost package, and; a hinged closing member con nected to the open frame or mouth of the crate.

2. A metallic crate for holding a. plurality of superposed cans and consisting of a body having an open mouth for introduction of cans, and two hinged can supporting members attached to opposite sides of thebody for projection within. the body to engage the bottom to support the uppermost can.

3. A metallic crate forholding a plurality of superposed cans and consisting of a body having an open mouth for introduction of cans, twohinged can supporting members attached to. opposite sides of the body, for

projection within the body to. engage the bottom to support the uppermost can, and a hinged locking? strip attached to themouth of the body for spanningthe same.

4:.A metallic crate for holding a. plurality of superposed rectangular cans and including a rectangular open bottom, four angle bars. attached thereto and forming corners of the crate, a rectangular frame connected to theopposite ends of said longitudinal members, two oppositely disposed plateseach of which is provided with a flange for projection within and without the crate, said plates being hinged-1y connected .to the outer faces of the longitudinal members.'intermediate of the ends of such members, the flanges when projected within thewcrate forming a support for engaging the bottom of the uppermost can at its two opposite sides, and a closure attached to the open frame.

5; A metallic crate for holding a plurality of superposed rectangular cans and including a rectangular open bottom, four angle bars attached thereto and forming cornersof the crate, a. rectangular frame connected to the opposite ends of said longitudinal members, two oppositely disposed plates each of which is provided with a flange for projection with in and without the crate hingedly connected to the' outer faces. of the longitudinal members intermediate of the ends of such members, the flanges when projected within the crate forming a support for engaging the bottom of the uppermost can at itstwo opposite sides, a strip, said plates being hingedly connected to one side of the open frame, and cooperating means carried by the free end thereof and. the adjacent side of the frame for locking the strip to the frame.

6. A metallic crate for supporting a plurality of rectangular cans including a rectangular open. frame-work, the lower end of which isprovided with flanges for engaging the bottom of and supporting the lowermost can, two oppositely disposed plates each one of which is provided with a longitudinal flange formed at right angles to one edge thereof, hingedly connected eXteriorly of the frame at opposite sides of the crate, said flanges being. so disposed that when the body of the plate is parallel with the sides of the frame the flange is projected within the crate to form bottom rests for theuppermost can, whereby the uppermost can is separated from the lowermost, and the weight of the upper can is held thereaway from, and means connected to the mouth of the crate for holding the uppermost can seated upon the flanges.

In. testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS F. DURNING.

Gr mes qt. thisgatenft h e qbteiue ijtoiyfiye cents eagh, by addressing the flpmmissipner o1 Patents,

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